Oregon coach Casey Martin among those who advance out of U.S. Open local qualifier

Randy L. Rasmussen/The OregonianCasey Martin is trying to get back to the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club, where in 1998 he made history by competing using a motorized cart.

There was nothing unusual about the Oregon and Oregon State representation among the six golfers who advanced out of the U.S. Open local qualifier played Monday in Vancouver, but the Ducks part had a twist.

Casey Martin, Oregon’s sixth-year coach, shot a 2-under-par 70 at Royal Oaks Country Club to tie for third place. Martin and five others advanced to the 36-hole sectional qualifier that will be played Monday, June 4 at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell.

Martin, who turns 40 next month, is trying to return to the U.S. Open, which will be played June 14-17 at San Francisco’s Olympic Club, where Martin made history in 1998 when he become the first golfer to compete in the championship using a motorized cart. Martin suffers from Klippel-Trenauney-Weber syndrome, a birth defect that keeps blood from circulating properly to his withered right leg, making walking an entire round painful.

With the cart, Martin tied for 23rd at the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club.

Martin, who competed in a cart Monday, won a court case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court, allowing him to use a cart on the PGA Tour, which he played as a fully-exempt member in 2000.

Nick Sherwood, a junior at Oregon State, shot a 6-under 66 to take medalist honors. Sherwood mixed seven birdies with a bogey to beat runner-up Charlie Hughes, a junior Washington, by three shots.

Rak Cho, a freshman who plays for Martin at Oregon, finished in a four-way tie along with his coach at 2 under. They were joined by professionals Joe Dolby and Shane Prante in advancing to sectionals.

Martin also learned Monday where his Ducks will play in the NCAA Regionals next week. Oregon will be the No. 2 seed in the 13-team regional at the University of Michigan Golf Course in Ann Arbor on March 17-19. The top five from each regional will advance to the NCAA Championships, which start May 29 at Riviera Country Club near Los Angeles.

Sherwood and the Beavers will be the No. 9 seed at the 13-team regional at Stanford Golf Course.